Gerard Houllier wants his chastened Liverpool players to accept their responsibilities to the club in today's Barclaycard Premiership game at Newcastle.

The angry Anfield boss has held a clear-the-air meeting with his entire squad after the debacle of their Carling Cup exit at the hands of Bolton on Wednesday.

He said: "What is said between me and my players remains within these walls.

"I have let the players know there was a difference about the potential and the performance of our team against Bolton."

That defeat prompted Houllier to launch an uncharacteristic assault on his players and prompted the showdown at the club's Melwood training complex less than 24 hours after the cup exit.

Now Houllier has another injury blow to contend with as Harry Kewell - with eight goals to his name so far this season - has been ruled out for three weeks with an ankle problem sustained in the dying seconds of Wednesday's match.

The Frenchman, who is likely to give 20-year-old right back Jon Otsemobor his league debut at St James's Park, wants to see his players fight.

He said: "Now is the time to step up and take responsibility. You do not win things with just 11 players, more like 22.

"We are missing six first team players - but that is why we have a squad. It is now down to them to show their worth."

Houllier has threatened to leave shirkers "rotting in the reserves" and almost certainly on their way out of Anfield in the summer. And, he knows that with the Premier League's top three virtually out of sight, the lunchtime collision with Newcastle could hold the destiny of both club's seasons.